Never say never....

    "There is no way I could do it" , "I just don't have the patience", "I'm afraid I will screw them up". These are all things that I said prior to deciding to homeschool my children. I had friends that homeschooled and while I loved them, I thought they were crazy. I mean who in the world wants to take on that kind of resposibility?! We should leave that to the people who are trained to do it.
   All of the sudden my feelings on homeschool changed. I started to feel as though God was leading me toward homeschooling and I was terrified. I'm a nurse not a teacher. Little by little I started to entertain the idea of homeschooling but I didn't dare tell anyone because surely they would think I was crazy. I first brought up the subject with my mom and she was so supportive and encouraging that I thought "ok maybe I can do this!"  Then I broached the subject with my husband whom I was sure would shoot me down. While he was initially skeptical, he agreed to give it a try.
   Since making the decision to homeschool our kids I can honestly tell you it was the best decision we have ever made. They have thrived and grown in ways I never thought possible. In a world where kids are told who/what they should be, they have been given the opportunity to develop their own personalities and interests without the societal influences that so often push our kids into feeling as though they need to fit a certain mold. They have excelled in their education as well, the one on one attention that they receive has made a huge difference in their ability to learn and retain the information given. I know lack of socialization is a huge argument against homeschooling but please let me tell you it is not the case.  We attend church three times a week where they are a part of an excellent youth program. We are also members of a county homeschool group where there are upwards of 200 children that we do activities with regularly. My children are being taught to socialize with a wide range of people and age groups.
    If you are considering homeschooling please let me tell you YOU CAN DO THIS! All it takes is determination and faith. For moms who are currently homeschooling and feeling discouraged, I have been there. When the obstacles seem insurmountable, the days seem too long, and the patience seems too thin, remember those little lives you are shaping. They are worth it!